STUDENT DEMONSTRATORS ATTACKED IN F

[lurie@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx]

Media Release
Date: August 12, 1998
     
                                    
               STUDENT DEMONSTRATORS ATTACKED IN FRONT OF 
                       BURMESE EMBASSY IN BANGKOK

Ten students involved in an demonstration in front of the Burmese
Embassy in Bangkok sustained injuries when unknown assailants
hurled glass soda and fish-sauce bottles at them late last night.

The first attack took place about one o'clock when four people on
two motorbikes threw soda bottles at the students who have been
demonstrating in front of the Embassy since August 8, 1998. The
bottles smashed near the pavement and splinters of glass hit the
students who were sitting against the Embassy wall.   

Among the injured were three Thai students from the Students
Federation of Thailand. The three students - two female and one
male - had joined the demonstration in support of the National
League for Democracy's (NLD) demand for parliament to be convened
by August 21. 

One of the protesting Burmese students, Win Aung, suffered a
broken nose in the attack and required a number of stitches. 

During the second attack, two assailants hurled fish-sauce
bottles at the demonstrating students. Thai policemen, who were
on duty and watching over the students, chased the attackers but
were  unable to apprehend the culprits who sped off on a
motorbike. 

So far, no one knows the purpose of the two attacks or the
identity of the assailants.

Meanwhile, about 50 Burmese student demonstrators donated blood
today at Chulalongkorn University Hospital to mark the 66th
Birthday of Queen Sirikit of Thailand. 

All Burma Students' Democratic Front 

For more information please call 01-253 9082, 01-654 4984.